Lawyer Fees Generally
Usually lawyers are paid an hourly rate for the time they spend working on behalf of the claim. For the most part, the hourly rate changed by lawyers increases depending on the lawyer’s experience and, in particular, the lawyer’s experience in the particular field in which he is being retained.
Time = Money
Abraham Lincoln once said, “A lawyer’s time and advice is his stock in trade.” In essence, asking a lawyer for his or her advice is no different than asking an accountant to do your taxes, or hiring an electrician to fix the wiring in your home.
However, some people are under the impression that calling a lawyer and asking a question is free. Most lawyers will answer preliminary questions regarding a legal matter at no charge, but when it is determined a lawyer is needed, a fee contract is required.
The amount of time that a lawyer will spend on any particular case will vary by lawyer and by case. Just as no two cases are the same, the work habits, productivity or the approach deemed best to a particular case, are not going to be the same from one lawyer to another.
What’s a Contingency Fee?
In some cases, a lawyer may accept a case on the basis of what is generally known as a contingency fee agreement. Given the tremendous cost of litigation, most of my clients are simply not in a position to be able to financially afford to pay my hourly rate on a month by month basis.
Contingency Fees Allow Access to Justice
A contingency fee contract has been referred to as the “poor man’s key to the courthouse” because many persons who are in need of a lawyer cannot afford the significant costs of litigation at the lawyers normal hourly rate.
At Arnold McKiggan Hutchison we are pleased to be able to offer our client’s the option of contingency fee contracts in appropriate cases. However, we go one step further.
Client Choice Legal Fee Program
There are some cases where a percentage fee may not be appropriate. For example, in a case where the insurance company has already made you an offer, you may want to pay the lawyer on an hourly rate basis and perhaps save tens of thousands of dollars in the process!
This is why we developed the innovative Client Choice Legal Fee Program for personal injury claims.
If you live in Atlantic Canada and have a serious personal injury claim and you think you require the services of a lawyer, you can call us for more details of our Client Choice Legal Fee Program
I have been representing victims of serious personal injuries for 18 years. I wrote The Consumers Guide to Car Accident Claims in Nova Scotia and The Consumers Guide to Medical Malpractice Claims in Canada to help injured victims get fair compensation.
Both books are available for sale on Amazon.
But if you live in Atlantic Canada, you can get a free copy of either the book by contacting me through this blog, visiting my website at www.apmlawyers.com or by calling me toll free in Atlantic Canada at 1-877-423-2050.